As Sri Lanka’s tourism sector stages a steady recovery after the pandemic, India has emerged once again as its most critical source market. With nearly 90 weekly flights operating between the two countries and strong traffic from South India driving growth, SriLankan Airlines is sharpening its focus on tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities while maintaining a full-service proposition in a price-sensitive market.
In this interview with THE WEEK on the lines of OTM 2026, Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager for India, Nepal and Bangladesh at SriLankan Airlines, speaks about post-Covid traffic trends, route strategy, Indian traveller behaviour and what passengers can expect as the airline restructures its operations.
Q. India has consistently been Sri Lanka’s biggest source market. How central is India to SriLankan Airlines’ strategy today?
A. India, being Sri Lanka’s immediate neighbour, has always been our biggest source market—not just for tourism but across sectors. Naturally, even in tourism, India has remained the top contributor over the years. As the national carrier, our objectives are aligned with Sri Lanka’s national tourism policies, and since India is the largest source market for Sri Lankan tourism, our operations to India are closely aligned with that national goal.
Q. Post-Covid, how has traffic evolved for SriLankan Airlines from India?
A. Post-Covid, the biggest challenge was to bring tourists back to Sri Lanka. I would say we have been very successful in that exercise. We’ve seen clear year-on-year growth. From 2024 to 2025, arrivals grew by roughly 4,00,000, about a 1,00,000 increase in actual numbers. Looking ahead to 2025–26, our target is also along similar lines, and based on current trends, we are confident of achieving around 6,50,000 tourists.
Q. With nearly 90 weekly flights between India and Sri Lanka, how important are tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities in your expansion plans?
A. They are extremely important. Out of the 531,000 tourists who arrived in 2025, nearly 39 per cent came from south India—a very significant contribution. Strengthening our presence in tier-2 and tier-3 cities is therefore a priority. Cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai and Trichy play a vital role. Thiruvananthapuram, in particular, is an emerging market, we’ve seen nearly 139 per cent growth over last year. The potential is huge, which is why it makes sense to strengthen these markets rather than only competing in metros.
Q. Does this mean metro cities are no longer a priority?
A. Not at all. We continue to strengthen metro connectivity as well. However, airport slot availability in major cities can be a challenge—it may not always be the slot timing we want, depending on aircraft availability.
In contrast, tier-2 and tier-3 airports have better slot availability, and importantly, the demand already exists. Our planning is therefore very deliberate.
To clarify, we already operate strong metro connectivity, two daily flights each from Delhi and Mumbai to Colombo, ten flights a week from Bengaluru, and daily flights from Hyderabad. What we are now evaluating is whether we can add more frequencies to the smaller cities.
Q. How are passengers from north Indian tier-2 cities routed currently?
A. Passengers from cities such as Jaipur or Amritsar are largely channelled via Delhi to Colombo. That network works well for now, while we continue to assess direct connectivity opportunities where viable.
Q. Indian travellers are known to be price-sensitive. How do you balance fares with service quality today?
A. That is one of the biggest challenges. Gone are the days when Indian travellers looked only for the cheapest price. The market has evolved, people now value quality and the overall travel experience.
At the same time, pricing still defines the market. You’re not just competing with airlines on the same route; you’re competing with other destinations. A leisure traveller might compare Colombo with Thailand or Malaysia.
So it’s always about price plus the best experience. It’s a very thin line. We track destination pricing daily and ensure our fares remain competitive while maintaining service quality.
Q. What differentiates SriLankan Airlines from its competitors for Indian flyers?
A. We are a full-service carrier. From most Indian destinations, we offer both Economy and Business Class, pre-choice meals, a wide beverage selection, and a complete onboard service experience.
More importantly, we try to give passengers a sense of Sri Lanka even before they land. Our onboard hospitality reflects how Sri Lankan people welcome guests. That experience, delivered by our crew, is a key strength for us.
Q. The airline has undergone restructuring. From an Indian market perspective, what changes can passengers expect?
A. From a service standpoint, we have not made any changes on Indian flights. We have built a strong brand around service and do not want to compromise on that at any level. Operationally, there may have been adjustments, such as frequency rationalisation or capacity additions, but service consistency has been maintained. Passengers will continue to experience the same standards they associate with SriLankan Airlines.